As part of a collaboration between the newly renamed franchise, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA, the history of the original Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002), along with the history of the Charlotte Bobcats, are all now part of the history of the new Hornets franchise.[5]

^The team did not play in Nashville until 1998. When relocating the franchise from Houston to Nashville, owner Bud Adams originally planned for the team to play both the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Memphis as the Tennessee Oilers during the construction of what is now known as LP Field. Low attendance led Adams to move the team to Nashville a year earlier than planned, playing in Vanderbilt Stadium until the new venue was completed for the 1999 season.